Las Jaras Old Vines Carignan and Wet Leg
Las Jaras and Wet Leg prove that sometimes, the hype is 100% warranted.
From the outside, this wine producer and this band might look like another trend that people latch onto for superficial reasons. Their packaging, aesthetics, and surface vibes are hipster bait. But, upon further inspection, they both know exactly what they are doing, in the sense that they are in fact skilled and talented, but also acutely self-aware.
Las Jaras and Wet Leg produce wine and music that is undeniably impressive, but above all, they’re fun, feel-good, and don’t take themselves too seriously. This effect is no doubt the result of the friendships at the heart of each operation. Their love for each other and what they are making together is palpable, and their fans can’t help but reflect that back to them.
Veteran California winemaker Joel Burt and cult comedian Eric Wereheim are the masterminds behind Las Jaras. They bonded over a love of wine, food, and the community surrounding such daily pleasures. That shared passion led to making their flagship “Sweet Berry Wine,” featuring the face of Eric’s comedy companion John C. Reily, which grew into their current portfolio of over a dozen delicious wines.
Las Jaras wines are vibrant, clean, genuine, approachable, and meant for indulging with or without food, with friends, by yourself, at a fancy party, or at a Sunday backyard barbecue. Basically, Las Jaras is for anyone, any time, and any place. As silly as the winemakers may be, they don’t mess around when it comes to their craft, which is obvious when you experience the quality of their wines.
Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers are from the English town Isle of Wight, best friends, and the founders and frontwomen of Wet Leg. Wet Leg is charmingly reminiscent of indie rock’s 90s and early 2000s golden era, while also fresh and totally their own thing. Their music has sex appeal and energy for days, while their lyrics are grounded in skepticism and honesty. They are magnetic, which explains why the band became a sensation even before their debut album dropped in April.
Photo by Raph_PH on Flickr
Las Jaras 2019 Old Vines Carignan puts an underrated, under-the-radar single varietal in the spotlight, giving it a chance to really show what it can do. It comes from a single vineyard, Lee Testa, in Mendocino County. The vineyard is organically farmed, the grapes are hand-picked, and the wine is unfiltered—a testament to the quality and purity of this bottle.
The wine jumps out of the glass with super expressive aromas that are earthy and spicy with dark fruit, lavender, pine, black cherry, and a hint of black licorice. It’s fruity, savory and juicy on the palate with emphatic acidity and a nice, long finish. And before you even open the bottle, the flirty label artwork by Chloe Wise commands your attention.
“Wet Leg” begins with “Being in Love,” a blunt and vulnerable song with pretty vocals contrasted by angular guitar and keys. You’re immediately drawn into their world that feels assertive but understated and up for whatever: “I feel like someone has punched me in the throat but I kinda like it cause it feels like being in love.”
“Chaise Longue” is cheeky, playful, and sarcastic, exuding the sense of humor that vibrates from Wet Leg’s music and members. “Angelica” is a sexy song that starts off jaunty and poppy, then builds up with heavy drums and fuzzy, loud guitar. It’s about going to a party and being wholly unimpressed, except for with one alluring guest.
“Wet Dream” is another standout that invites you to dance while putting a presumptuous man with propositions of watching an artsy Vincent Gallo film in check: “What makes you think you're good enough to think about me/When you're touching yourself?” The music video is a whimsical, absurd, and campy companion.
Wet Leg shows their versatility and complexity throughout the album outside of the advanced released singles, which are all bangers. “Loving You” is one of those songs that is more delicate and soft. The chorus has lovely harmonies and the lyrics deal with difficult emotions about moving on from an ex. It conveys a level of rawness and maturity, like the deep character of the wine’s old carignan vines that were planted in the mid-1960s.
The album ends on a very bold note with “Too Late Now.” It’s a super punk song that rejects social constructs and escalates in noise and intensity, culminating with a brutal scream and cheerful keys in the backdrop.
“I don't need no dating app to tell me if I look like crap
To tell me if I'm thin or fat, to tell me should I shave my rat
I don't need no radio, no MTV, no BBC
I just need a bubble bath to set me on a higher path”
Allow me to suggest Las Jaras 2019 Old Vine Carignan as the ultimate enhancement to that bubble bath.
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